Living Here: Outdoor activities

If you like being outside, there's plenty to do on the Peninsula. From cycling and watersports to golf and hunting, there's plenty to keep people active while outdoors.

Cycling

The Peninsula offers many opportunities for cycling enthusiasts. Whether you enjoy group rides, solo jaunts or competitions, Hampton Roads has many opportunities. Courses and trailways in the Tidewater region tend to be flat but are often scenic, offering meadow views and woodlands. Many trails and courses are open to riders of all experience levels, and there are organizations to help find a ride that's right for you.

Eastern Virginia Mountain Biking Association. Group often rides at New Quarter Park in Williamsburg, Freedom Park and York River State Park, among other places. P.O. Box 7553, Hampton, 23666. Kirk Moore and Penny Rich, 566-1121. evma.org

Golf

Hit the links. Golf is a favorite pastime in Hampton Roads. The PGA and LPGA have made stops at the area's courses, some of which were designed by legendary golfers. After a two-year hiatus, the LPGA returns to Kingsmill in September.

Fees can vary widely by season, day (even time of day), age, whether you're walking or riding and other factors. Call ahead for tee times and prices.

Deer Cove Golf Course. Civilians, $10 (9 holes open) daily. Carts not included. Need to be able to get on base. Cheatham Annex Naval Supply Center, at the end of Route 199 at Colonial Parkway in York County. 887-6539.

Tradition Golf Club at Stonehouse. Public. $40-$99 for 18 holes, includes cart. Take I-64 to exit 227, take 30 North and the course is about a half-mile on your right, in James City. 9700 Mill Pond Run, Toano. 566-1138. traditionalclubs.com

Chickahominy WMA. Deer, turkey, squirrel, rabbit, dove and waterfowl. The area can be approached from U.S. Route 60 at Providence Forge by taking state Highway 155 south, then left onto Route 614, left on 615 and bear right onto 623.

Hog Island WMA. Hunting with a gun on the Hog Island Tract is allowed for waterfowl only on a strictly controlled basis. Hunting on the Carlisle Tract is open to the general public under general regulations or as posted. Here, there is the opportunity to bag deer, dove, quail, squirrel, rabbit and turkey. The area is accessed from state Route 10, between the towns of Surry and Smithfield, north via Routes 650 or 617.

Dismal Swamp Tract of Cavalier WMA. Cavalier WMA features deer, bear, turkey and small-game hunting. Deer and bear hunting is conducted through the department's quota hunt system during the general deer firearms season in the city of Chesapeake. Beginning Dec. 1, Cavalier WMA is available to all hunters pursuing game during open seasons. The Dismal Swamp tract of Cavalier Wildlife Management Area is closed for spring gobbler hunting April 17-18. The main tract of Cavalier remains open on these days. Take Route 17 south to Ballahack Road. Go left on Ballahack for 1.5 miles, and the entrance to Cavalier WMA is on the right.

Ragged Island WMA. There is the opportunity to hunt deer in the pine islands and other high ground. Other upland game animals on the area are raccoon, rabbit, fox and squirrel. Waterfowl are hunted by jump-shooting the ponds and creeks, and from licensed blinds on the wider creeks or the James River. The area is bisected by U.S. Routes 17 and 258, and state Route 32, southwest of Newport News and Hampton at the southern end of the James River Bridge.

Gyms

Hampton Roads has a variety of health and fitness clubs, each with different resources. Most offer group classes, and if there is a pool, often the club will have swim lessons.

Bally Total Fitness. Located on 12255 Hornsby Lane, across from Patrick Henry Mall in Newport News, this club has a pool downstairs and a variety of free weight and cardiovascular machines. Personal training is available for an extra fee and group exercise classes, such as spinning, yoga and pilates are free with a membership. For membership costs and more information, call 249-1315.

Curves For Women. With locations in Newport News, Hampton, Yorktown, Williamsburg and Poquoson, these facilities specialize in 30-minute workouts, three times a week, consisting of strength training and aerobics. For phone numbers, visit curvesinternational.com/locations

One Life Fitness. Located at 815 Middle Ground Blvd. and 11805 Fountain Way in Newport News, some of the amenities include racquetball and basketball courts and a theater that has cardio equipment instead of seats. You can watch movies on a projection screen while you work out. Group exercise classes and personal training are also available. For more information, call 599-1888 (Middle Ground), 599-5433 (City Center) or visit onelifefitness.com

Riverside Wellness and Fitness Centers. With a Newport News and one in Gloucester, Riverside offers a variety of facilities and classes, depending on the location. Some locations offer such amenities as tennis, racquetball, volleyball and basketball courts and swimming lessons. Group exercise classes, personal training and fitness testing also are available at some locations.

Total Fitness. A 24-hour location at 6120 Jefferson Ave. in Newport News provides personal training, sports-strength camp and sports lifting. For membership and other information, call 827-0629 or totalfitnessclub.com

YMCA. With locations in Hampton, Yorktown, Suffolk and Newport News, these facilities offer more than just aerobic and strength training equipment. Swimming lessons and group exercises also are available at some locations. For phone numbers in your area, visit ymca.net

Rowing

Give your arms a workout. Whether you want to row for fun or competitively, the choice is yours.

Virginia Rowing Club. Recreational and competitive rowing for men and women in single, four- and eight-person shells. Summer classes for novices. Based in Hampton but open to all Peninsula residents. Meets three times a week in summer, and has monthly races. P.O. Box 9661, Hampton, 23670. varowing.org

If you like the thrill of competing or training with others, the Colonial Road Runners and the Peninsula Track Club offer plenty of local opportunities.

Colonial Road Runners. Based in Williamsburg but serves runners from throughout southeastern Virginia. Open to men and women of all ages. Many races (each with run/walk between 5 kilometers and 8 miles, often along with 1-mile fun run) held annually. P.O. Box 657, Williamsburg, 23187. Rick Platt, 229-7375. colonialroadrunners.org and rickplatt@juno.com

If being on the water is your style, there are boat rentals, charter and group tours, or if you have your own water craft, boat ramps. The Peninsula is sandwiched by many rivers, including the James, York and Hampton, and the Chesapeake Bay.

Williamsburg Inn. Semiprivate. Memberships available for locals, and courts are available for hotel guests in Colonial Williamsburg. Nonmembers, $24 an hour. Six clay and two hard courts. Opens near end of March. Teaching pro available and pro shop. Francis Street, Williamsburg. 220-7794.

Windsurfing

Windsurfing Enthusiasts of Tidewater. Meetings are the first Thursday of each month on the Peninsula and are announced on sailwet.com and windvisions.com Windsurfing instructor: Pete Wells, 851-3224.

Motorsports

If the need for speed is more your style, check out competitive go-kart racing at Langley Speedway in Hampton.

Hampton Roads Kart Club. Has races from April through October at Langley Speedway. P.O. Box 8146, Yorktown, 23693. 249-5278. hrkc.com